title: Causes and characteristics of work-related eye injuries in western Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze descriptive data and characteristics of work-related eye injuries (WREI) admitted into the emergency department (ED) and obtain information to utilize in planning measures to prevent WREI.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study recruited patients with WREI admitted to the center in the two-year study period. Only the casualties occurred at the workplace and while working constituted the sample. The data were collected via face-to-face contact in the ED.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Males comprised the majority of the sample (95.3%, n = 778) and mean age of the patients was 28.1 ± 6.5 (range: 15-54) with the biggest percentage in between 25 and 34 years of age (46.2%, n = 377). Most patients were working in the metal and machinery sectors (66.4%, n = 542). Nearly half of the patients had less than 1 year of experience (50.4%, n = 411). The most common mechanism of WREI was noted to be exposures to welding light (26.9%, n = 219), followed by drilling/cutting injuries (21.1%, n = 172). "Carelessness" and "hurrying up" were the most commonly reported causes of WREIs among 'worker-related causes' (21.4% and 16.1%, respectively). Lack of protective measures ranked the highest among workplace-related causes (18.7%, n = 207).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Programs to increase awareness on workplace safety and sound preventive strategies for both parties-employers and employees are to be pursued. Occupational safety efforts should include training on workplace eye safety and campaigns to raise knowledgeability on this disease among workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Pamukkale University, School of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serinken
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Turkcuer
authors.forename: Ebru Nevin
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Cetin
authors.forename: Atakan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Hayri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elicabuk
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karcioglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult